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Date: |
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Description: | Aboard the Revenge [Plymouth].
Examinations taken on this date by Vice-Admiral Thomas Fenner, Capt. Robert Crosse, and Capt. Thomas Polewhele, as follows:
John Cather of Roscoff deposes that the Sunday before Easter he came from Veales Mallega [Malaga di Velez], where the common report was that the Spanish fleet amounted to three-hundred sail; also before his coming thence, there went eighteen gallions from St. Lucas [or Lucar] to Lysborne, and seventeen great ships more to join with the army there; that the Pope had sent 17,000 men and some galliasses to strengthen that army; that the whole fleet by report was ready and intended to set sail with the next fair wind for England; and that "all strangers were stayed upon that coast, or that they should not carry any news into England before the Spanish fleet were at sea, with commandment, upon pain of death, no man to send any letters by any means, so as no ship could pass away without stealth."
Vincent Luzveur of Lantergaire in Brittany, merchant, of a ship called the Loyse, deposes that he departed from Lishborn to St. Lucas the Wednesday about mid-lent, at which time there were at Lishborn four galliasses, twenty-five great ships of Portingall and Venetians of great burden, with between six and twelve hundred tons, fifty great Biskin ships, fifty great hulks and twelve gallies; that twenty-five great ships went from St. Lucas to join the said fleet in Easter week; that the common speech at Lishborn was that the fleet would be ready to sail for England about April 15, "as also a common report at Cales [Cadiz], that upon the coming of these twenty-five great ships from St. Lucas to the army, that then they should presently to the sea; that they have five hundred moyles [mules] for the drawing of their ordnance; that they meant to ship fifty thousand soldiers besides mariners; and that "their greatest hope resteth in the Prince of Parma his forces, and that they asked him whether the French forts were not ready also."
Frauncis Sharr, of Sherbrooke [Cherbourg], in Normandy, William Andrewes, of St. Mallo's, master of the John of Trenthon; Henry Cope of Hambroughe, master and owner of the Mary of Hambroughe; Andrian Lemon; Michaell Minger of St. Mallo's, merchant, of the John of St. Mallo's; Evan la Hey of Lantergair, master of the Lewis of the same; Howell Boe, master of the Francis of Bemoye; Pierce Fyshett, master of the Jacob of Pheckam [Fecamp], and William Massey, master of the John of Pheckam, depose to the same or similar effect. And three of them "also confessed of a messenger sent unto the Prince of Parma out of Spain, of purpose for intreaty of peace, but given out in Spain to be only to entertain time, that the fleet may suddenly come on unlooked for. One younger man more examined, who confessed that he took his boat and surveyed the whole fleet of the army, to the number as followeth: one hundred and fifty great ships, four galleasses, one galleon Florentine, one hundred and fifty Leventoyes whereof nine are of the greatest force of all the army, Biskins fifty, hulks fifty." Signed in several places by the three examiners.
[See the Vice-Admiral's letter, Cal. S. P. Dom. 1581-1590, p.482.] | Subjects: | Country Estates | Temporal: | 12 May 1588 | Source: | Lincolnshire County Council | Identifier: | http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/Re... | Go to resource |
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